How I Did It

Lately I have been approached by quite a few people inquiring about the weight I have lost. While I have never been more than 145lbs I have said my goodbyes to my heavier curvaceous self and said hello to my healthier leaner self. With still a ways to go before I reach my ideal size,I am overjoyed with the weight I have lost and thoroughly encouraged to continue to strive to obtain all of my physical goals. In the interim,I thought it would be helpful to share some of my unconventional secrets that has helped me drop from a size 10 to a size 4. Please keep in mind the tips listed below may not be the most conventional means for everyone but this is what help me.

1. Surround yourself with people who are physically fit and in excellent shape. Looking at their healthy physique will make you feel guilty every time you indulge in unhealthy sweets you should not be eating. If you see that a six-pack and killer legs is obtainable for someone else, it sends a distinctive message to your brain that you too can achieve the same results if you work hard enough. This tip worked wonders for me because seeing is believing.

2. Start a new exercise that will take you out of your comfort zone. Running is a exercise that until recently was quite foreign to me. I began to run every time I went to the gym and before I knew it I was training for my first 5k. By stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something different,my body was immediately challenged to work harder and I saw the results alot faster. Running is one of the fastest healthiest ways to burn calories. Start small, stay consistent and your body will begin to love the workout.

3. Join an expensive gym. Aside from experiencing state of the art equipment and luxury amenities such as spa's, steam rooms, jacuzzis, and indoor/outdoor pools, this unconventional method works perfectly for me because I absolutely refuse to waste $70.00 a month. Most memberships are automatically withdrawn from your account which means your gym will be getting your membership fees whether you go or not. Throwing $70.00 down the drain in this recession is insanity especially when that money can be saved or used to buy a new pair of shoes. In addition calculating how much each visit will cost me ($5.83 for at least 12 visits) helps me justify the $70.00 expense and it ensures that I will attend the gym no less than 12x a month.

4. Complete part of your workouts in front of a mirror if possible. Watching yourself workout can serve as a means of motivation if you don't like what you see, and a means of encouragement for the improvements that will begin to take place in your body and form. This is not a tactic to be vain or conceited but merely a way to identify what you look like in comparison to what you want to look like.

5. Express your workout goals to family and friends. This will keep you motivated because the haters will love to ask you if you stopped yet, and your supporters will love to hear that you are on your way to achieve exactly what you said you will do.

6. Don't buy junk food when grocery shopping. This may sound like a given to some but to others it will prove to be quiet helpful. When grocery shopping never include cookies, juice, chips, ice cream or any form of sweets. It will be more of an inconvenience to give into your sweet cravings if you have to go out and get the snacks versus walking straight into the kitchen. Your laziness to go get a snack will inadvertently curb your sugar cravings and hopefully encourage you to snack on healthier treats such as granola bars, fruits, vegetables, string cheese, etc.

7. Eat as many meals from home as possible. This method helped me eat healthier and helped me save money on overpriced meals and unnecessary vending machine trips. Everyday I make/pack breakfast, 3 healthy snacks and lunch. Breakfast puts my day off to a great start. The snacks keep me filled so I am less likely to give into sweet cravings, and lunch is usually the biggest meal I have for the day. Bringing food from home keeps you eating healthy, regular and its cost effective.

8. Do thorough research. Research new exercises, healthy meals and snacks, clubs and groups (running clubs, swim clubs, yoga groups, spin class) workout wear and accessories, sporting events and health benefits. Staying engaged will keep you motivated and the more you turn working out into an enjoyable hobby the less it will feel like a dreaded obligation.

9. Identify your friends that have achieved some of the results you are looking to achieve and don't be afraid to ask them for suggestions and recommendations. Contrary to what you may believe, most people like to be helpful and if your friends are as kind as some of mine have been they won't mind offering suggestions, tips, encouragement and they might even workout with you. Utilize your resources.

10. Try not to obsess over instant results. This is one I still struggle with but I'm working hard to overcome. Becoming healthy is a lifestyle and not something that will happen overnight. You might not shed the 10lbs your looking to loose immediately but practing healthy habits is a guarantee that you are becoming more health conscious and it s only a matte of time before you see the results of your labor.

These are just a few of the tricks that have helped me along the way. They are not sure proof ways that will work for everyone but the consistent element in each strategy is to stay motivated. Know how to outsmart the unhealthy you and tap into the new healthier you.

If you have any questions about my tips or would like to provide me with a few tips that have worked for you as well please feel free to leave a comment or email me at cuteasakittie@yahoo.com

The Problem With What If"s

What if you got the promotion you wanted and was demoted 3 months later because you never perfected the skills needed for your new position?

What if you got the 4 bedroom Cul-de-sac you dream of but it was foreclosed in less than a year because you brought the house before you fully learned how to budget your money?

What if you lost the weight you wanted but then gained twice as much back because you didn't learn the proper way to keep the weight off?

What if you got the 2010 5 Series you wanted and started show boating all around town, only for it to be stolen because you never learned how to be humble?

What if you got the baby you been praying for only to find out later you actually rather be selfish and free just for a little while longer?

What if you finally married the man/woman you been longing for only to find out your future will now be filled with heartache and grief because they weren't the one?

What if God gave you all your hearts desires only to snatch it all away because you never learned to be grateful and appreciate what you initiall had?

What if God finally revealed your calling and purpose but then had to use someone else because you never learned how to have a continuously willing spirit?

God moves at his own time. Be patient and wait on him because he just might be waiting on you!*

Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me: for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all day."

Blindsided!!!

In the playing field between men and woman do woman have more of an dating advantage than they realize?

Statistics for the DMV area states the ratio of woman to men is 3:1. Men have used this statistic in their favor as they marvel upon their dating options while woman have used the same statistic as the culprit for why dating is so hard these days.

As a woman I have often agreed that by time you subtract the men with all the detracting features such as: unemployed, bad credit, baby momma drama, or commitment issues the pool that remains is not always that impressive. Yet, as I get older and wiser I have come to realize that there is a whole group of eligible men that go unnoticed. These are what we call the "good guys". The guys that treat you like your a princess and make your heart melt but doesn't come with the same drama as the man who makes your knees buckle.

These are not the unattractive guys that get on your nerves. These are the guys with the good jobs, no kids, no drama, that are comfortable in their own skin, but have somehow gone unnoticed because they might not dress the best or they might not be in the same social scene as you.

These "Good Guys" are the guys that let you know during the date that they would like to see you again. The guys that have taken the time to truly like who you are as a person and how you look is just an extra bonus to them. These are the guys that will make you smile in a way your "knee buckler" will never be able to.

So why do these guys go unnoticed you may ask? Well its simple, you've been blindsided!!...you weren't looking for them. Instead of checking for the good guy you was checking for the dude in the club that brought you the most drinks or the dude that drives the nicest car and wears the most expensive clothes. The "fancy" dude who will mostly likely screen your calls and texts and will never commit.

Meanwhile, Mr. Good Guy goes about his business unnoticed enjoying his life. This is not the guy who is going to chase you. He is not going to entertain your childish dating games, and if your not interested he will keep it moving with no problem. You see, Mr. Good Guy knows his self worth and if you don't see it, he knows its your lost because in the end you will be the one continuously crying and heartbroken over Mr. Fancy, while he is loving and adoring the woman who knew what was important when selecting a mate.

Everyone is a work in progress do you choose to work on Mr. Fancy who looks good but will never change? or do you choose to work on Mr. Good Guy, who probably only needs a slight makeover and a good woman on his side?

The choice is yours?

I Don't Want it If Its FAST

"Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight." With obesity rates at it highest its disturbing to hear that many Americans still eat fast food. Fast food franchises such as McDonald's, Wendy's Popeye's, Burger King and Taco Bell are still in business even with the overwhelming negative effects their food has on the body. It appears the surprisingly disturbing facts from Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me have long been forgotten despite the severity of its message. According to Morgan Spurlock's 2004 American documentary:

-"Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant."
-"A person would have to walk 7 hours continuously to burn off a Big Mac, Fries and a Super sized coke."
-"Nutritionists recommend not eating fast food more than once a month."
-"40 percent of American meals are eaten outside the home.
-"McDonald's states that "Any processing our foods undergo make them more dangerous than unprocessed foods"
-"Before most children can speak they can recognize McDonald's."
-"Left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America."

While these details might single out McDonald's as the sole culprit, competitive fast food chains have the same negative effects on the body. Rule of thumb: If its fast it can't be good for the body. French fries, burgers, tacos and fried chicken are all foods that reek havoc on the body especially when processed. One mild Popeye's chicken breast alone contains: 350 calories, 179 milligrams of cholesterol, 1130 milligrams of sodium and 20 grams of fat. Sides and a drink to complete the meal has not even been calculated yet.

To think that meals with such unhealthy nutritional value is consumed by adults every day is is frighting; but, to think this is what we feed our children as well that is just catastrophic. In a time where everything is on the go, old fashion peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with an apple and Mott's apple juice has now been replaced with Kids Meals.

While healthy eating often comes with a hefty price tag, one must ask when it comes to your health is this really the time to be frugal? Traders Joe's, local farmers market and smart budgeting all options that can help make the transition to healthy eating much more affordable. Though it may be more time consuming to prepare meals and snacks from home in the long run its well worth the effort. Take a step back from the fast food and enjoy the life long benefits of eating healthy, your body will thank you in the end.